Anthony Volpe scratched from Yankees’ lineup with upset stomach
HOUSTON — Aaron Boone had wanted to get Jon Berti in the lineup.
He just didn’t want this to be the reason why.
Anthony Volpe was scratched from Sunday’s lineup with an upset stomach, the team said, before the Yankees finished off a sweep of the Astros with a dramatic 4-3 win at Minute Maid Park.
“He’s pretty ill,” Boone said. “We’ll see. He was in the handshake line with a smile on. But it’s been a rough day.”
Volpe, who had gotten off to a hot start offensively through three games, was one of six Yankees on the Opening Day roster to make the trip to Mexico City for a two-game series this past week.
At least a few members of the Yankees’ traveling party who went to Mexico have been dealing with gastrointestinal issues.
“I think I’m getting there,” Boone said wryly when asked how he was feeling Sunday. “It hasn’t been the greatest five days. But shaking hands at the end of the day [after wins] sure helps.”
Berti replaced Volpe in the lineup, getting his first start at third base with the red-hot Oswaldo Cabrera moving over to shortstop, and made an instant impact.
The utility infielder, acquired from the Marlins this past week, recorded an RBI single in the second inning to put the Yankees up 1-0.
In the ninth inning, he made a diving stop to his right on a hard ground ball by Jose Altuve and stepped on third for the first out.
“It felt very good to go out there and help this team,” said Berti, who was warned early Sunday morning he might be needed. “I know how special of a group this is. That’s what I want to do here is whatever I can to help this team win.”
The Yankees had planned to get Berti into a game before Sunday but Cabrera’s blazing start altered those plans.
“I told Jon this today, nobody wanted him here more than me,” Boone said. “I pushed everyone, ‘Hey, we need to go get him, I know what he’s going to be to this team on the long haul.’ I know that’s the case. He’s going to play a huge role for us this year.”
Clarke Schmidt turned in a strong first start of the season, striking out five and giving up three runs across 5 ¹/₃ innings.
He had thrown five innings of one-run ball before running into some trouble in the sixth.
“I felt great,” Schmidt said. “As far as execution goes and stuff goes, this was probably one of the better times I’ve been in my career. Really good outing overall. Some tough balls at the end, but really, really happy with where everything’s at.”
With some help from its outfield defense, the Yankees’ bullpen has started the season by throwing 15 ¹/₃ straight scoreless innings.
The Yankees traded for right-handed reliever Jake Cousins from the White Sox in exchange for cash considerations.
Cousins, 29, had signed a minor league deal with the White Sox in December but has a career 3.08 ERA in 51 career big-league games with the Brewers from 2021-2023.
